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1 Samuel 27

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 27 of 31

1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. Nothing is better for me than that slipping away I should slip away to the land of the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me, to still seek me in all the border of Israel, and I shall slip away out of his hand.

2 And David rose up and crossed over, he and six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, the king of Gath.

3 And David lived with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each man and his household: David and his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the former wife of Nabal of Carmel.

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Chapter Summary

Saul learns David is in Gath and no longer seeks him. David begs Ziklag of Achish. He strikes other lands. Achish thinks it was Judah.

Key Hebrew Words

מָלַט slip away, escape H4422 · TWOT 1198
יָאַשׁ despair, give up H2976 · TWOT 833
בָּקַשׁ seek, pursue H1245 · TWOT 276
חֵן favor H2580 · TWOT 694a
פָּשַׁט make a raid H6584 · TWOT 1845
אָמַן trust, believe H539 · TWOT 116

People & Context

David

Fugitive who crosses to Philistine Gath with 600 men, receives Ziklag, and raids the southern peoples

Achish

Philistine king of Gath, son of Maoch, who shelters David and grants him Ziklag, trusting him fully

Saul

King of Israel who stops hunting David once he learns David has fled to Gath

Ahinoam of Jezreel

One of David's two wives who accompanies him into Philistine territory

Abigail

David's wife, the former wife of Nabal of Carmel, who lives with him at Gath

Maoch

Father of Achish, king of Gath

Timeline

David Flees to Gath

Convinced Saul will eventually kill him, David flees with his 600 men and their families to Philistine territory, seeking refuge with Achish of Gath.

1 Samuel 27:1-4
Achish Grants Ziklag to David

David requests a country town instead of living in the royal city. Achish gives him Ziklag, where David lives for a year and four months.

1 Samuel 27:5-7
David's Deceptive Raids

David secretly raids the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites, leaving no survivors to report the truth. He lies to Achish, claiming he is raiding Judah.

1 Samuel 27:8-12

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